Lawsuit: Medford, deputies framed suspect

10:26 PM,
Sep. 16, 2013

Written by

Clarke Morrison

A man who spent 11 years in prison for a Buncombe County murder he didn't commit claims in a federal lawsuit his constitutional rights were violated by former Sheriff Bobby Medford and other officers involved in the case.

Investigators coerced false confessions and deliberately concealed DNA tests and other evidence that would have shown Robert Wilcoxson and his co-defendants had nothing to do with the 2000 slaying of Walter Bowman, according to the complaint.

"Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford created an atmosphere that encouraged officers to engage in improper and ...